Knockdown fight ring



April 8, 1930. L. BARNES KNOCKDOWN FIGHT RING Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8, 1930. BARNES 1,753,328

KNOCKDOWN FIGHT RING I Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jg Twink i ll W WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIf VIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ 1 Patented Apr. 8, l fi LEW BARNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS xnocxnown FIGI-ITRING Application filed. February 15, 1929. Serial No. 340,073.

My invention relates to a collapsible or knock-down platform and has more particular reference to a-knock-down platform such as used for prize fights, boxing contests, and

5 wrestling matches and other athleticexhibitions. 7

Heretofore it has been the practice inerecting a fight-ring to cut pieces of lumber and assemble them in proper form by nailing 0 and. otherwise, and after the exhibition has been finished the ring or platform is usually torn apart and dismantled. This is:quite an expensive proceeding because of the factthat the wrecked lumber is practically useless for erecting another ring and it is usually disposed of as second-hand material because of its undesirable sizes. Furthermore'the erection of a fight-ring in this manner requires considerable time due to the fact that each part must be measured, cut and fitted on a particular j ob.

In order :to overcome the inherent objections and disadvantages of the above described structure I have devised a-fight-ring that is ofa knock-down character, so that when dismantled the parts are of small proportions in .order that they may be readily moved around, conveniently transported in a small motor truck, and may be readily stored 3 in a comparatively small. space. On account of the interlocking and coacting features of my improved fight ring it is possible to erect a ring at almost any location and it is unnecessary to drive spikes or nails into a floor forthe purpose of maintaining the ring parts in assembly. This permits the ring to be erected upon a polished dance floor in a ballroom upon a stage in a theater, .or at a fairgrounds bazaar, or carnival where the posts would rest directly upon the ground.

Numerous advantages result from the-use ofla structure such as I have devised'all of which will be obvious after-a better understanding of myinvention is obtained. '1 have .4 numerous objects .in view among which are the. provision of an exhibition ring of acollapsiblecharacter that is novel iniconstruc tion, sturdy in the formation -.and ,assembly of its @-parts,-depen-dab1e 'When..;in--.us'e, and

: whichmaybe economi ally manu ac u e -e that it may be sold fora reasonable retail price. All of the foregoing objects-I prefer to obtain through the instrumentalities of the structure hereinafter described and as more particularly pointed out. in the claims, reference being made to 1 the accompanying drawings that form a partiof this specification.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a perspective showing-myimproved ring assembled.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of an edge of the platform or super structure at the location =ofone of the braces.

Figure 3 isa horizontal section-at @COTIIGI of the ring and taken ion-line 3-3 of .Fig ure 4. I

Figure 4C is'a view in-e'levation -o-f aeicorner standard'and corner" post, showing the assembly with the platform or flooring, parts of the same being broken awayor. insection.

Figure 5 is a top plan of thecentral-standard'and an intermediate sidestandard showing the assembly of the main lfioor beams therewith.

The drawings are to be understood' asschematic for the purpose of illustrating a typical-or preferred manner in which; my invention may be-practiced and in said drawings similar reference "characters have. been used to designate like parts wherever they-appear throughout theseveral views.

Referring-to Figures-1 and will be noted my invention comprises flvkIlOCk-dOWIl supporting structure in the 1 form :of. standards and beams that are braced, anda knockdown superstructure that consists of a; sectional flooring-supported :by. the beams and corner posts arising. above the 'platforml between which the -nsual -guardrropes ware stretched. r I I I The supporting structureconsists ofa plurality of standards or legs i0, preferably eight in :number, that are made from metal tubes of a; proper gauge, each *of whichuis exteriorlythreaded at its endslto receive the I flanges or disks .11 .a.nd .112, {the formerlbeing screwed upon the lower. vendioff thetube provides the footer base for thjeitube .and the a r (l2) :b inenp n the -;-1 ,PP' act the tube so as to provide a shelf upon whch the beams or other portions of the superstructure rest. There is also provided a central standard or leg 13 that is of the same construction as the other and standards having the adjustable upper and lower flanges or disks.

By reason of the fact that the flanges are threaded upon the tubes they may be screwed up or down on any particular standard in order to adjust the height of said standard for the purpose of leveling the platform when the floor or ground is'uneven or irregular.

There are preferably four I-beams let that extend radially from the central standard or leg 13 to the intermediate standards or legs 10 located midway the corners of the ring. These beams rest upon the top flanges 12 of. the respective standards legs, and are secured thereto by removable bolts as seen in F ig.-5. The longitudinal and side frames of'the structure consist of channel beams 15 disposed with their flanges extending inwardand with their ends resting upon and secured byremovable bolts to the top flanges 12 of the corner and intermediate standards 10. A facing beam 16 of wood or timber is bolted to the vertical web of each channel beam 15 in the manner shown in Figure 2 at their corners the timbers are preferably mitered as shown at 17 in Figure 3. As will be seen in Figures 3 and 5 the ends of the wood facing beams 16 extend beyond the ends of the metal channel beams 15 so that at the corners (Fig. 3) a space will be provided back of the wood beams to permit the insertion of the corner posts 18.

These corner posts have an exterior dimension slightly less than the interior dimension of the corner standards so that they may be telescopically inserted in the latter and are preferably extended therein down to the floor or other base in the manner shown in Figure 4. The corner posts 18 are tubular and of such length that they project above the horizontal plane of the floor the regulation distance for such members and intermediate the plane of the floor and the tops of these posts 18, the latter are provided with rings or loops 19 to which the guard ropes are connected by means of the turn-buckle device 20 The guard-ropes 21 are usually three in number, spaced apart vertically the regulation of distance andon account of the use of the turn-buckle device 20 the corners of the ropes are sufficiently removed from the posts 18 to preventa contestant striking the post during an exhibition within the ring.

A loop or ring 22 is disposed upon the lower portion of the corner standards 10 in order to receive braces or stays 23 that extend from each ring at the corners obliquely upwardly to the'supporting frame where their upper ends are secured to the frame members by means of one of the bolts2l that connects the channel beam to the timber facing. Turn buckles 25 or other tightening devices coact with the stays 22 in order to tighten them and afford a dependable brace at the corners of the supporting structure. Cross braces 26 extend between the diagonally opposite corner standards and are provided with turn-buckles and other take-up devices that may be tightened to afford additional braces for the supporting structure.

As will be seen in Figure 1, indicated by dotted lines, the floor of the super-structure is made in a plurality, preferably twelve sections. These sections consist of flooring boards 28 suitably connected to provide individual units that rest upon the beams 15 of the side frame, each section being provided with floor joists 29 to which the floor boards are secured. At their other ends these joists are interfitted with the channel beams 15 in the manner shown in Figure 2.

The usual padding 30 is spread upon the completed flooring after which the regulation canvas covering 31 is stretched taut and turned over the edges of the supporting frame members where it is held in position by means of loops formed with a cord or lacing 32 that is secured to the edges of the canvas covering 31 and coacts with headed members 33 projecting from the lower portions of the timbers 16.

Stairways 34 are provided at opposite corners of the ring whereby the contestants may readily enter the ring. These stairways consist of side runners arranged obliquely up from the floor and notched in the ordinary manner to receive the stair treads, and for the purpose of conveniently cooperating the stairway with the platform at the plane of the latter I prefer to make a right angular cut-out portion 35 on the top tread so as to fit the stairway to the corner members of the ring structure outside the post.

Provision is made for judges and others to be seated beside the ring by means of the hanging seat consisting of a plank 36 secured to the horizontal members of L'shaped hangers that are mounted pendently upon the side members of the platform frame. At about the center of length of the plank there is a gong 38 by which the time-keeper may signal the time for beginning and ending of the rounds or innings of the contests.

From the foregoing, it will be seen the structure which I have provided may be readily assembled at almost any location where a suitable foundation or base is found for the legs or standards of the understructure. The parts are interfitted and bolted together while being assembled so that a sturdy structure is provided upon which the contestants may perform during the exhibition. At the completion of an exhibition the entire ring may be readily dismantled by releasing the braces and guard-ropes and removing the bolts so that the parts may be disassembled. All of the parts of the ring When in knock-down condition are relatively small so that a large quantity may be stored in a comparatively small space and the entire structure may be conveniently packed in a motor truck or lorry for convenient transportation from place to place.

What I claim is 1. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of hollow standards having lateral flanges at their upper ends, a platform formed in knock-down sections resting upon said flanges, posts telescopically mounted in said standards and extending above said platform, and guard-ropes stretched between said posts.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of hollow standard having lateral flanges at their upper ends, beams resting upon the flanges of adjacent posts, a sectional flooring supported by said beams, posts telescopically mounted in said corner standards and extending above said flooring, and guard-ropes stretched between said posts.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of hollow standards having lateral flanges at their upper ends, a knockdown sectional platform mounted upon said flanges, stabilizing means connecting said standards and platform, posts telescopically mounted in said standards and extending above said platform, and v guard-ropes stretched between said posts.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of floor sections, longitudinal and transverse beams coacting with said floor sections to form a knock-down platform, uprights having flanges intermediate their ends upon which the corners of the platform rest, a plurality of standards coacting with the central portion and intermediate edge portions of the platform to support the latter, braces connecting said platform with certain of its upporting elements, stays connecting the diagonally opposite corner uprights, and guardropes stretched between the portions of said uprights above the platform.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a knock-down supporting structure and a knock-down superstructure mounted thereon, said supporting structure consisting of a plurality of standards, and braces connected to the standards and the superstructure, said superstructure consisting of a plurality of sectionalfloor members, beams resting upon the supporting structure and connected to the floor members to provide a platform, cor-- ner posts telescopically engaged with the'corner standards, and guard-ropes stretched between'the upper portions of said posts. 7

6. A deviceof the kind described comprise ing a knock-down supporting structure and a knock-down superstructure mounted thereon,

said supporting structure consisting of a plurallty of standards, and braces connected to the standards and the superstructure, said superstructure consisting of a plurality of sectional floor members, beams resting upon the supporting structure and connected to the floor members to provide a platform, corner posts telescopically engaged with the corner standards, guard-ropes stretched between the upper portions of said posts, and braces eX- tending between the lower portions of said ably inserted telescopically in the corner standards, guard-ropes extending between said corner posts, and means for drawing said guard-ropes taut towards said corner posts.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 11th day of February, 1929.

LEW BARNES. 

